Internal Medicine Community & Population Healthcare Track
About the Program
As the Dallas-Fort Worth area rapidly becomes one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the U.S., UT Southwestern is committed to facing the healthcare challenges of the future by fostering the skills residents need to become highly proficient and culturally competent clinicians, educators, and healthcare leaders experienced in caring for diverse as well as underserved populations. Our distinct Community and Population Healthcare training track, embedded within our Internal Medicine Residency program, emphasizes the skills and training needed to address and reduce health disparities for the people of Dallas-Fort Worth and beyond. The Internal Medicine Community and Population Healthcare Track will welcome 15 residents per year, for a total of 45 residents over three years. Graduates of the Community and Population Healthcare Track will be poised to pursue ambulatory and hospital-based general internal medicine careers, and possess a foundation for subspecialized advanced fellowships with a focus on improving health care for all.
Preparing Leaders in the Field
The Community and Population Healthcare Track goes beyond traditional clinical training. Residents will practice academic community medicine, with a focus on Quality Improvement projects, gain a deep understanding of healthcare systems like our large Veterans Administration health system, and address social determinants of health. This track is designed to cultivate leaders who can drive change, focus on disparities, and promote well-being through public health initiatives.
- Training Sites
Innovative Training Across Leading Healthcare Systems
This track will offer residents immersive, hands-on experience across three major healthcare systems:
VA North Texas Health Care SystemResidents will spend 50 percent of their time at the nation's second-largest VA hospital, providing comprehensive care from primary to advanced subspecialty medicine.
Parkland Memorial HospitalResidents will spend 25 percent of their time at Dallas County's safety net hospital serving a diverse community, including specialized clinics for refugees, correctional health, and more.
William P. Clements Jr. University HospitalResidents will spend 25 percent of their time at our tertiary care hospital rotating through various subspecialties to ensure well-rounded clinical training.
- Curriculum
Comprehensive Curriculum
Residents will follow a meticulously structured curriculum with an added emphasis on outpatient care via the ‘4+2’ schedule. Residents will rotate through various specialties, including:
- Inpatient General Medicine and Subspecialties: Cardiology, gastroenterology, oncology, infectious diseases, and more.
- Selective rotations in military medicine focused on care for veterans related to:
- Complex diseases and injuries from battle
- Toxic exposures
- PTSD
- Addiction medicine
- MSK and mobility challenges and disabilities
- Equitable access to veteran services
- Specialized Clinics: Refugee, transgender, medication-assisted treatment, and homeless outreach clinics
- Public Health and Quality Improvement: Dedicated weeks for longitudinal primary care and health equity experiences with mentorship from faculty members in the O'Donnell School of Public Health
Inpatient Rotations (during 4 week blocks) Weeks Wards
7 weeks Parkland Wards, 5 weeks VA wards, 2 weeks Wards Night float14 ICU 8 Electives 4 Subspecialty inpatient consults (CUH) 6 Outpatient Rotations (during 2 week blocks) Weeks Refugee Clinic and Jail Health HIV Clinic 2.5 weeks
(in continuity)Continuity Clinics 8 Didactics/PopulationHealth 2 Subspecialty clinics (VA) 2.5 Redbird (UTSW Community Clinic in South Dallas) 1 Vacation 4 Rotaton Weeks Wards 12 The Obstetric/Gynecologic Emergency Services Facility at Parkland 2 Community-Oriented Primary Care, including time in the Refugee Clinic 4 Electives 4 Geriatric Medicine 2 Continuity Clinics 12 Combined rotation with two weeks each of neurology and addiction medicine 2 Cardio-Pulmonary ICU, a combined service with both cardiology and intensive care attendings 4 Infectious Diseases 2 Gastroenterology 4 Vacation 4 Rotaton Weeks Wards 8 Medication-Assisted Treatment clinic 2 Jail Health 2 Electives 6 Continuity Clinics 12 Emergency Medicine 2 Palliative Care 2 Hematology/Oncology 2 Cardio-Pulmonary ICU, a combined service with both cardiology and intensive care attendings 4 Research 4 Nephrology 4 Vacation 4 - Application and Interview Process
The Community and Population Healthcare Track is a unique training pathway within the UT Southwestern Internal Medicine Residency. We accept applications to the track through ERAS and the Community and Population Healthcaretrack has its own NRMP code: 2835140C5.
The Interview Process
The Community and Population Healthcare Track is a part of the larger Internal Medicine Program, so we want to ensure that all applicants have a chance to learn about both the Internal Medicine Residency in general and the Community and Population Healthcare Track specifically. Applicants take part in the larger General IM Residency interview process and then have additional interview elements to learn about the training sites, experiences, and people who make up the Community and Population Healthcare Track.
- Salary and Benefits
House Staff Stipends for 2025-2026
Program Year Annual Stipend Program Year 1 $70,101 Program Year 2 $72,672 Program Year 3 $76,167 Program Year 4 $80,299 Program Year 5 $84,095 Program Year 6 $86,503 Program Year 7 $91,451 Program Year 8 $95,787 Benefits
Residents in the Community and Population Healthcare Track are employed by UT Southwestern. This arrangement allows for the fullest integration with the O'Donnell School of Public Health possible.
UT Southwestern offers a robust benefits package that includes free health insurance for employees, affordable dependent coverage, dental and vision plans, flexible spending accounts, wellness programs, and personalized support services to promote overall well-being.
Additional Benefits offered to Residents
Malpractice Insurance
All residents are enrolled in professional liability insurance administered by The University of Texas System Professional Medical Liability Benefit Plan. Coverage is effective upon enrollment and extends to all training sites during the duration of residency training.
Paid Time Off
Residents will be provided with four weeks of PTO each academic year from July 1 to June 30th.
- For Parkland, PTO will be front loaded at the start of employment
- For UTSW employed, 8.33 PTO hours will be accumulated each month
Up to one month per academic year is permitted for time away from training, including vacation, holiday, illness, family medical leave, bereavement leave, pregnancy related leave. In accordance with ACGME Policy, residents are provided six weeks (240 hours) of approved maternal, parental, and caregiver leave of absence. The Maternal, Paternal, Caregiver leave benefit is 100% paid and runs concurrently with Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
Parking
Free parking is provided at all campus and hospital sites.
Uniforms
Residents are provided two pairs of scrubs and one jacket with embroidered name and program. Additional scrubs are available at hospital sites.
Meals
Free lunch is provided every week day during noon conference at the three main hospital sites (Parkland, Clements University Hospital, Dallas VA). Parkland and CUH meal cards are allocated for meal purchases during overnight call.
Education and Travel Allowance
Each resident is allocated $2,000 each academic year to cover educational and travel expenses:
- $1000 towards educational expenses (e.g. textbooks, board prep courses, journal subscriptions, board examinations, etc.)
- $1000 towards conference travel expenses
Also included
- In-house moonlighting opportunities available
- Residents' lounge – An oasis in the middle of it all; stocked with coffee, a refrigerator, a microwave, sofas, cable television, and a ping-pong table!
- VPN accounts for home access to our hospital's medical records and library resources
- Free access to MKSAP for all residents and UWorld bulk purchased and covered by educational expenses.
- UT System site license for Microsoft Office software
Leadership

Professor & Interim Chair

Vice Chair of Education
Program Director

Associate Program Director

Associate Program Director

Krystal Lai, M.D.
QSV Chief Resident